Taking care of the blown fuse in the house is an easy, do-it-yourself, simple task. It can be successfully achieved with the correct kind of equipment, safety precautions and correct knowledge. In this article, we have discussed it all, starting from the kinds of electric fuses to safety precautions and steps to get it done. Read on to know all about it.
What is an Electric Fuse?
An electric fuse is deemed a safety component that offers protection from the overflowing of current in the electric circuit. It features a metal strip or wire that melts in case excess current flows through it. It interrupts or stops the current, which saves the device.
What are the Types of Electric Fuses?
There are mainly two kinds of electric fuses that can be explained separately. We have discussed both of them in the section below.
- Plug Fuses: During faulty conditions, it is a component which helps prevent excess current flow. Also known as plug-ins or spade fuses, they come with two metal caps and a plastic body directly fitting in the socket. They are highly useful for short-circuit issues.
- Cartridge Fuses: These are the cheaper alternatives for the overload protection of electric appliances and circuits. They have a contact point at the end and a cylindrical shape. These are usually made of porcelain, glass and ceramic.
What are the Reasons for Blown Fuses?
There can be several reasons why a fuse can blow. In this section, we have elaborately discussed three of the primary causes of a blown fuse.
1. Overload Circuit
If a bigger electric load is delivered to the circuit, the whole system will be overloaded. This is a common scenario when many appliances are connected to the circuit simultaneously.
The extension leads are one of the main contributors to circuit overload. The fuse blows up due to overheating when many appliances are connected to them.
The load capacity influences the fuse size at home. If the fuse often blows due to circuit overload, then your electric needs cannot be sufficed by the existing circuit, and you need to ask the electrician to enhance the circuitry.
2. Faulty Appliances
Even if the wiring of one electrical appliance has a loose connection or is faulty, it can cause the fuse to blow up. If you experience this, you must check for the faulty appliance and replace the connection. On the other hand, if you cannot figure out the damaged connection on your own, you can call for a professional electrician.
3. Short Circuit
A short circuit is dangerous and is caused by any electric-carrying wire touching another wire or any other current-carrying component. It can cause harm to the electrical appliance, cause the fuse to blow and even threaten human lives.
The short circuit results from several factors such as wires cut by rodents, bad insulation, or loose connections. Let experts handle things in case of a short circuit is recommended.
What are the Safety Precautions Before Fixing the Blown Fuse?
Fixing electrical circuits can be dangerous, so you must take some safety precautions before starting the task. We have listed all the safety measures that you need to follow to be safe.
- You need to turn off all the electrical appliances before you turn off the main power. If any particular appliance like a microwave, vacuum cleaner or hair dryer has caused the problem, make sure that you unplug it or else the circuit will be overloaded, which will cause it to blow again.
- Make sure that your hands are dry before you touch any electrical fuse. Also, ensure that the surface you are standing on is dry. Moreover, you need to wear rubber sole shoes and rubber gloves for added protection.
- Lastly, you should wear some protective eyewear or sunglasses while fixing the circuit.
Steps for Fixing the Blown Fuse for the Fuse Box
There are several steps that you need to follow when you are trying to fix a blown fuse in the fuse box. To make things easier, we have listed all the steps below.
1. Turn off the Main Power
First, you must ensure all the electrical appliances are unplugged and the lights are turned off. This will ensure that the new fuse is not overloaded. You need to keep the usual safety protocols in mind, like the use of rubber-soled shoes, and rubber gloves and making sure that the hands are dry. Also, make sure that you are wearing safety eyeglasses.
2. Locate the Room Where the Outage Occurred
Then, you need to turn off the main power and look for the room where the outage has occurred to find the blown fuse out of all the fuses.
3. Identify and Remove the Blown Fuse
Now, you need to check the fuse and identify the blown one. This can be done easily by checking for a cloudy or discoloured fuse or a melted or broken metal component inside the fuse box. You can also look for the circuit box labelling if it is beneficial.
4. Replace the Blown Fuse with a New One
Keeping the main power off, you need to unscrew the blown fuse with the new one. The main thing to keep in mind is that the new one should be of the same type, rating, size and amperage as the replaced fuse. If it is replaced with a higher amperage then the circuit and the panel wiring can be damaged seriously.
5. Restore the Main Power on
After the new fuse is in place, you need to switch on the main power and make sure that the connection is stable with all the appliances working as before. However, if things are different, you must call for professional help.
When to Call a Certified Technician?
Sometimes just changing the electric fuse is not enough and you will need to call a certified electrical technician to look at things for repair or further investigation. Also, the professionals are much more careful and it is safer if they do their job.
Again, if the circuit breaker blows up regularly even after you are not overloading the circuit, something major might happen. You can look for signs like rusting, heat, burning smell and signs of scorching around the fuse. This might be dangerous in the future and can cause a fire hazard. So, it is suggested to call for professional help.
Final Word
We have tried to discuss everything you need to know when fixing a blown fuse. We hope that the article answers all your questions. If you still cannot fix the issue with the circuit, call for an electrical expert to take care of things. In case of any questions or suggestions, feel free to write to us in the comments section below.
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